Page 91 of Forbidden Vengeance

“Let them remember.” Her voice drips venom through our secure line. “Let them see what happens to people who choosetradition over evolution. Sean’s death taught us all what loyalty to the old guard costs.” A pause. “His boy was seventeen, Mario.Seventeen. And my father put a bullet in his head to make a point about respect.”

I think of Giuseppe, of all his lessons about power and control. How none of them prepared him for a world where his sons would choose love over vengeance. Where daughters would dismantle empires their fathers built through carefully orchestrated revolution rather than brute force.

“Besides,” Siobhan adds, real satisfaction coloring her tone, “Anthony’s too busy hunting you and Elena to see how thoroughly we’ve infiltrated his operation. By the time my father realizes what’s happening, it’ll be too late for both of them.”

We watch in awe as Siobhan’s revolution unfolds with devastating precision. Her forces move like shadows through Boston’s underworld, each piece falling perfectly into place. The next generation claiming their birthright not through violence, but through careful coordination and digital warfare.

“Jesus,” Elena breathes beside me, watching the screens. “She’s actually doing it.”

I don’t even have words.

“The old guard’s locations are confirmed,” she reports moments later, her fingers flying across her laptop. “At the Dubliner.”

“They’re toasting their alliance, planning how to ‘handle’ the modernization problem. While their own security teams ensure they can’t leave,” Siobhan says.

The reports flow in steadily, each one more impressive than the last: dock operations transferred seamlessly to Siobhan’s crew. Digital banking systems locked down and transferred to new control. Every piece of infrastructure Siobhan built over years of careful planning now serving its true purpose.

Through the feeds, we watch young captains coordinate with military precision. The next generation of Irish leadership moving as one organism, systematically securing power centers their fathers thought impregnable.

“My God,” Elena whispers, leaning against me. “She’s thought ofeverything. Look—she’s even got the police commissioner’s son coordinating with her people. The cops won’t interfere.”

“It’s done,” Siobhan announces finally, real triumph in her voice. “The families are with us now. Every crew, every captain who matters.” A pause. “Time for the old guard to learn about real power.”

“Be careful,” I warn her, recognizing the particular madness that comes with victory. “Cornered animals are the most dangerous.”

Her laugh holds no warmth. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”

30

ELENA

The aftermath of Sean Murphy’s execution transforms our safe house into a war room. Encrypted communications flow between New York and Boston as we help Siobhan solidify her control. My laptop screens display real-time updates of the Irish power shift—young captains pledging allegiance, old guard supporters being systematically isolated.

“The Murphy crew just seized another of your father’s warehouses,” I tell Siobhan during one of our daily phone calls. Through the secure feed, I watch her navigate her father’s old office like she was born to it. “No resistance. Seems your infiltration of his security teams was more thorough than even he realized.”

“Sean taught me well.” That raw edge remains in her voice whenever she mentions her murdered captain. “While my father focused on breaking bones, Sean showed me how to break entire systems. How to turn everyone’s blind spots into weapons.”

My network confirms that Seamus is practically under house arrest—his own modernized security teams ensuring he can’t interfere with his daughter’s takeover. The old don whoonce ruled through fear now watches helplessly as his empire transforms around him.

“He tried bribing his guards yesterday,” Siobhan says, satisfaction coloring her tone. “Offered them triple their salaries to let him contact his old captains. They recorded the whole thing and sent it to me.”

Mario smothers a laugh from beside me and I nudge his shoulder. “How’s he taking the isolation?” I ask.

She laughs delightedly. “Not well. Apparently, he spent an hour ranting about ungrateful children and the death of tradition. The guards say he keeps demanding to know how I turned his own security against him.”

“And did you tell him?” Mario can’t help but interject.

“I told him Sean taught me everything I needed to know about loyalty.” Her voice hardens. “Right before my father put a bullet in his son’s head.”

After hanging up with Siobhan, I lean back in my chair, rubbing my aching back. “She’s a scary motherfucker.”

Mario’s laugh fills the room. “Finally figured that out, did you?”

“I mean it,” I say, shoving him lightly. “The way she orchestrated this whole thing…” I shake my head in admiration. “Remind me never to get on her bad side.”

“Too late for that, little planner. You’re already in bed with her enemies.”

He has me there. “True. But at least I’m smart enough to be useful to her,” I admit.

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